Jeep Details Its First EV, the Adorably Rugged Avenger

The 2023 Jeep Avenger is the brand’s first fully electric model, and today it debuted at the Paris auto show.Unfortunately for fans of the adorably rugged little EV SUV, Jeep will not be offering the subcompact Avenger in America.Jeep also revealed the Avenger 4×4 concept that features blue front tow hooks, wider fenders, and chunkier tires.

Don’t worry, all you EV-loving Jeep fans who live in America. The company won’t sell the 2023 Jeep Avenger—its first fully electric model—in the U.S., but the electron-fueled Recon and tentatively titled Wagoneer S will fill that void when they both eventually arrive on our shores in 2024. While we wait, let’s take a closer look at the Avenger, which today made its debut at the Paris auto show.

The Jeep Avenger has been on our radar for a while now. We caught our first glimpse of it back in March when Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, announced its future EV plans. A lot was said, but what really caught our attention was the image of the chunky, yellow model that accurately previewed the Avenger’s appearance. Then, early last month, Jeep revealed details about the upcoming Recon and Wagoneer S as well as the Avenger’s official name, its production design, and that it wouldn’t be sold in America. Womp.

Jeep Avenger, Assemble!

The Avenger’s small dimensions are well-suited for Europe. It’s considerably smaller than the already stubby Jeep Renegade—about a half-foot shorter, actually. Jeep says the Avenger is about 4.1 meters long, which equals about 161 inches, and it rides on 18-inch wheels. Thanks to short overhangs, the tiny ute has a 20-degree approach angle and a 32-degree departure angle. It also has about 7.9 inches of ground clearance. Jeep says it even has hill-descent control and skid plates. Of course, we doubt many Avenger drivers will try to tackle truly treacherous terrain.

At the Avenger’s core is a 400-volt electrical system that pairs with a single electric motor powering the front wheels; a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive 4xe model is reportedly coming, too. Oddly enough, there will also be a gas engine option available at launch, but it’ll only be offered in Italy and Spain. Regardless, the front-drive Avenger EV has 154 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. Its electric motor draws power from a lithium-ion battery pack with a gross capacity of 54.0 kWh. The Jeep’s DC fast-charging speed tops out at 100 kW, and that’s said to take the battery from 20 to 80 percent in approximately 24 minutes.

Cockpit and Really Cool 4×4 Concept

Inside, the Avenger’s cabin features a clean dashboard design that’s highlighted by a body-color panel that connects the front pillars and includes integrated air vents. Along with a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, the driver faces either a 7.0- or 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster. There’s also a parcel shelf bisecting the dash that provides a perfect place to store small items. The front of the center console has a unique foldable magnetic cover, and the space it protects has a wireless charging pad and can hold a 1.5-liter bottle. Need to store bigger stuff? The rear cargo area will swallow 13 cubic feet of junk.

While a tiny electric Jeep is cool, especially one that looks like the Avenger, we weren’t too bent out of shape about its forbidden-fruit status—at least not until we saw the rad Avenger 4×4 concept that Jeep also revealed at the Paris auto show. It features wider fenders and a wider track as well as chunkier tires. There’s also additional front lighting and a unique hood with a black decal and a blue-trimmed vent that ties in with the other blue accents on the front tow hooks. We’re told the 4×4 concept improves on the regular Avenger’s off-road attributes with more ground clearance and slightly steeper approach and departure angles. Needless to say, now we are a little bummed it’s not coming to our shores.

The 2023 Jeep Avenger will be built at Stellantis’s factory in Tychy, Poland, and it’s slated to arrive in European showrooms early next year.

This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.